Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa Hackman, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What is hantavirus and how does it spread? Experts weigh in on the fatal disease.

Three people in a rural California town have died from hantavirus, the same infection that authorities said killed Gene Hackman's wife earlier this year.Health officials in Mono County said they have confirmed a third death from Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the town of Mammoth Lakes since the beginning of February.

Gene Hackman and Betsy Hackman's causes of death have been revealed. Gene was suffering from severe heart disease and advanced Alzheimer's disease while Betsy suffered from hantavirus, which is spread through rodent droppings.